Power Shortfall Crosses 4,000MW as Load-Shedding Returns

Pakistan’s electricity shortfall has risen above 4,000 megawatts, according to reports. The gap between supply and demand has grown sharply in recent days as several power plants went offline at the same time. Hydropower generation has also declined, adding to the pressure on the national grid. Officials said the shortfall could grow further if more plants shut down for maintenance.

The growing gap has brought back load-shedding in many parts of the country. Households and businesses in several cities are now facing power cuts of around three to four hours a day. Shopkeepers say the outages are hurting trade, while students complain they cannot study after dark. Power officials have urged people to use electricity wisely during peak hours.

Cities Hit Hard

In Lahore, the shortfall faced by the local power distribution company has crossed 1,500 megawatts. Officials fear longer outages in the coming days if fuel supplies do not improve. Residents in many neighbourhoods report both scheduled and unscheduled cuts, which makes it hard to plan the day. The company has asked consumers to report faults quickly so repair teams can respond faster.

Karachi is facing even longer disruptions. Some areas of the city have seen power cuts lasting more than 16 hours a day. K-Electric has blamed interruptions in liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies for the prolonged outages. The company said it was working with fuel suppliers to restore normal supply, but warned that some areas may face cuts until the fuel situation improves.

Brighter Spots in the Mix

There is some better news in the energy mix. Nuclear power output rose by nearly four per cent to a record 22.5 terawatt-hours in 2025, officials said. Nuclear plants are now one of the most reliable sources of cheap electricity in the country.

Solar power is also growing fast. A wave of rooftop solar panels, mostly imported from China, is helping households cope with high bills. Reports suggest solar now provides more than a fifth of the country’s total electricity.